Great hooks, bouncy enthusiasm, and a solid voice. Telekinesis brainchild Michael Benjamin Lerner has all the right moves on his almost self-titled (add an exclamation point at the end of the band name and voila! You've got an album title) debut full-length.

The record was produced by Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla. Though Walla is known for his attention to detail in the studio, the release is surprisingly free-spirited. Lerner sings sweetly as he pounds away on his guitar and Walla adds touches of strings and additional ambience.

Though the songs are never heavy, they still manage to rock. Straightforward indie stomp-along "Coast of Carolina" and the clap-clapping "Toyko" are definite standouts. The album's acoustic bookends ("Rust," "I Saw Lightning") work just as well.

--Spencer Sutherland